VoIP Caller Identification via Ringtone Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) networks face challenges in providing network-based caller identification services, requiring significant intelligence and complexity in IMS devices, leading to excessive resource usage and noticeable delays in notifying users of incoming calls.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method and apparatus that receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) communication session initiation request with an early-media indicator, modify it to include a session descriptor, and direct a messaging server to provide caller identification data via a real-time protocol communication session, enabling the presentation of audible ringtones without relying on device capabilities for file retrieval or multi-threaded operating systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional VoIP networks implement network-based caller identification services using IMS devices, then caller identification functionality is achieved, but device complexity and resource usage increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaller identification functionalityVSAvoidIMS device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a ringtone server as an intermediary component that centralizes the complex functions of caller identification and ringtone generation. Instead of embedding these complex capabilities within IMS devices, the server acts as a mediator that receives call setup requests, determines appropriate ringtones, and delivers them to called devices, thereby simplifying the IMS device architecture while maintaining full caller identification functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the complex caller identification and ringtone generation logic from the IMS devices and relocates it to a centralized ringtone server. This extraction removes the computational burden and complexity from the IMS devices, allowing them to focus solely on call routing and basic protocol handling, while the server manages the sophisticated CID service independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If IMS devices retrieve ringtone files and process caller identification locally, then service functionality is achieved, but processing time and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveringtone processing capabilityVSAvoidnotification delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing a comprehensive database of ringtones and caller identification information on the ringtone server before calls occur. When a call is initiated, the server can immediately query this pre-organized database and retrieve the appropriate ringtone without requiring real-time file retrieval or processing by the IMS device, thereby eliminating notification delays and reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ringtone server serves as an intermediary that handles all ringtone file management, retrieval, and delivery operations. This centralizes the time-consuming file operations away from the IMS devices and called devices, allowing them to simply transmit and play audio without the overhead of file system operations, network file transfers, and format conversions that would otherwise cause delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If called devices use text-to-speech synthesizers to convert text-based CID information into audible ringtones, then caller identification is achieved, but device resource usage and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetext-to-speech capabilityVSAvoiddevice resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a ringtone server as an intermediary that performs the text-to-speech conversion and ringtone generation centrally. Instead of requiring each called device to have sophisticated text-to-speech synthesizers and processing capabilities, the server handles these resource-intensive operations and delivers pre-generated ringtones to the devices, significantly reducing the computational resources required at the endpoint devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by pre-generating and storing audible ringtone versions of caller identification information on the ringtone server. Rather than converting text to speech in real-time at the called device, the system creates and caches the audible versions in advance, then simply copies and transmits the pre-converted audio files to the devices, eliminating the need for resource-intensive real-time synthesis operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9065905B2Methods and apparatus to provide a network-based caller identification service in a voice over internet protocol network

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 RINGCENTRAL INC

AI summary

Methods and apparatus to provide a network-based caller identification (CID) service in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) communication session initiation request message comprising an early-media indicator, disabling a ringtone generator, sending a SIP ringing message containing a session descriptor in response to the early-media indicator, receiving a ringtone based on the session descriptor, and presenting the ringtone to alert a user of a requested communication session.